The Non-Rational Divorce

This dad learned the hard way that divorce laws are stacked against fathers. Take a page from his playbook and prepare for battle.

Looking at my ex-wife you’d never suspect the painful deceit that lies within. Now, I get that when you’re negotiating divorce many irrational fears and fantasies come up. But we slowed it down. We took the time to get things right. And she still fought for an imbalanced parenting plan. She still argued that she was the primary caregiver. She still went for the payday she knew she could count on.

Divorce law is biased in favor of the mom. The minute she says, “I’m considering a divorce,” the man’s livelihood and balance of power is stripped away by the courts and my the formerly loving spouse.

What would happen if we divorced the way we married. It’s not like divorce, if you have kids, is really an escape from the other person. Divorce is just a changing of the political power in a relationship. When we were dating and while we were married we had a balance of power that worked itself out through bilateral negotiations and cooperation. Once the divorce decree is issued the balance of power is over. And if you’re ex decides to send your case to collections (The Attorney General’s Office) you can be assured that the power is all in the greedy fingers of the custodial parent.

Yep, she was right. But that doesn’t make the system or the rationale right. It’s dead wrong. In our case, I was the more responsible party for caregiving. I didn’t get into power struggles with our daughter over chores and choices. I didn’t sleep-in until noon on weekends. I didn’t work part-time and claim even that was a hardship. BS. My ex-wife went for the jugular because she knew she could get it. I mean, why wouldn’t you go for the best deal you could. Well, except for the fact that you’re taking that victory out of someone else’s hide. Must not have been an issue for her. She was scared. She was thinking about the needs of her children. She has an addiction to fancy shoes that wasn’t going to go away.

Today when the wife decides she’s ready for a change, she is making a choice to take 100% of the power in the relationship.

Why does the divorce start with the above three laws? I mean, you could fight them. You might win. But if you’re like me, not a fighter, you might go collaborative and hope for the best. BAD IDEA. The collaboration ends the minute the discussion moves to money or schedule.

Money is always an issue, even after they’re 18, shouldn’t we start fairly from the beginning?

My ex is not a bad person, we are making changes in the structure of our relationship, but the honor, respect, and compassion should remain between us.

We’ve got to make a change in the way divorce happens. Today when the wife decides she’s ready for a change, she is making a choice to take 100% of the power in the relationship. Before things were cooperative. When divorce is started the law is on her side. To fight about divorce is to sue your former partner. So, for most of us, we end up settling for the standard possession order and the non-custodial role. It’s BULLSHIT.

Dad’s are just as important to their families as moms. Both parents should share the financial burden equally. When one partner loses a job both parties live with less. If the dad has to go looking for a new place to live, shouldn’t they be the one’s given the financial consideration? Why is it the exact opposite. I get less time with my kids so I have to pay more money? It’s all messed up. It’s a historical precedent that must be fought if you are determined to get something better for your kids.

Divorce law is biased in favor of the mom. The minute she says, “I’m considering a divorce,” the man’s livelihood and balance of power is stripped away by the courts and my the formerly loving spouse. Until we change the status quo we dads will start the process from a disadvantage. Just know this is the way it is. Knowledge is power, so lawyer up. Even if you’re going cooperative, get a lawyer, because things will turn political and you need someone on your side too.

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This is so true in many states that have divorce laws that are over 100 years old. The burden is put on the father many times and in some states the woman’s income is not even taken into account. I think it should be equal across the board and everyone treated the same. Thanks for sharing this article I appreciate it.

There is, first of all, no pay inequity. There is choice, and the choices one makes, the sacrifices one makes, determines equity or inequity. A woman entering a job will be granted the exact same pay as a man entering the same formatted job. A woman having a career will earn to her participation and her choices. The numbers have all been run, and they are all proved out. Even if we were to run with that, the latest argument, 4 cents does not justify a systematic state of oppression targeted at men and father’s. Four cents does not justify… Read more »

I’m a divorced mother of two, and I absoloutly agree. It wasn’t until 6 years of marriage and me being pregnant with our second that my ex decided he didn’t want to be a husband and father. After more than a year of hoping his mind would change, he filed for divorce and I moved out with our children. Going through the divorce, he fought only for money and assets and pushed for minimum visitation. He got what he wanted. That’s was over three years ago, and I’m very happy now, and so are our children. But our oldest is… Read more »

Do the work before (maturity before and during “courting”) and during the marriage (incl counseling) to AVOID divorce. Don’t wait til the last minute; by the time she’s thought about it, and especially when she tells him she’s considering it, it’s likely already done in her mind and maybe even on paper. One oz of prevention…… More than likely, by virtue of the fact that the divorce laws were written many years ago, primarily, men made the laws….to protect women from the poverty they faced because of the financial support they stood to lose, as women were more likely to… Read more »

I did initiate the therapy to try and save my marriage. But she was not being straight with me. And when we divorced she went for the package she knew she could get. Money, House, Kids. It’s a shame it begins that way, but we have to fight if we want anything different. I should’ve.